President, Virgin Music UK
Course: BA (Hons) Music and Drama with Theatre Arts, 2006
Vanessa is President at Virgin Music UK, the label and artist services division of Universal that allows independent musicians to plug into the Universal framework. Artists she is currently working with include Rema, David Kushner, Self Esteem and Trippie Redd. In April, Vanessa was announced as one of Billboard’s International Power Players of 2023, which recognizes the most influential executives in the music industry from around the world.
Previously she was a musician who toured the globe for 15 years as a singer/synth/keys player and founded the record label and publisher Regent Street Records.
Vanessa spent 6 years as an independent label representative on the board of the BPI, where she also became the director of the BPI Innovation Hub; a post that led her to first becoming a mentor at Abbey Road Red, where she is now a member of the board.
For an opportunity to be mentored by Vanessa, apply now to the Alumni Leadership Mentoring programme.
Image credit: Carston Windhorst